10 Most Delicious Galician Dishes to try along the Camino If you’re planning your Camino de Santiago trip, it’s very likely that you’ll be visiting Galicia soon. One of the best parts about travelling is trying all the local dishes, especially if you’re a foodie. We’ve picked what we think are the 10 most delicious Galician dishes you absolutely must try on your Camino adventure. 1. Octopus The ultimate Galician traditional dish. You will find it referred to as ‘pulpo á feira’ (in...

5 Special Places To Experience The Camino at Easter Easter or Holy Week as it’s also known is widely celebrated across Spain, with many cities and towns along the Camino de Santiago hosting impressive processions. There’s a huge variety of different places to experience the Camino at Easter. Whether you want to celebrate by the coast or in one of the more well-known spots, or even in the most traditional, there’s so much choice. Here are 5 special places to experience the Camino at Easter...

Experience Holy Week in Italy – Unmissable Easter Events in Rome Are you planning to finish your Via Francigena walk in Rome over Easter? Holy Week is one of the most important weeks in the Catholic calendar, so this is a special time to spend a few days in Italy’s capital. If you find yourself in Rome during Easter, we’ve compiled a list of some of the ceremonies and celebrations you can attend. Don’t forget to also visit some of the city’s fantastic historic attractions too, especially...

Walk From Ireland to Santiago Along The Celtic Camino In olden times, Camino pilgrims would begin their journey as soon as they left their homes, which is why there are various different Camino routes crossing most of Europe. One of these routes was the Camino Ingles. The Camino Ingles is the route traditionally favoured by British and Irish pilgrims, as well as others coming from Northern Europe. These pilgrims would take a boat from the main ports in their countries and dock in the north...

Love Is In The Air: The Most Romantic Camino Spots While romance may not be the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about the Camino de Santiago, it might surprise you to learn that there are quite a number of romantic Camino spots and that this walking trail can actually be quite a swoon-worthy place! In fact, many pilgrims have celebrated wedding anniversaries and honeymoons on the Camino, while others have gotten engaged. Some have even been lucky enough to find love on...

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we are in a truly loved-up mood here at CaminoWays. We hear from people who walked the Camino with a loved one every year and we would love to hear your Camino love story. Have you walked the trails with a loved one or maybe you’ve met someone special on the route? Some decide to walk the Camino for a memorable wedding anniversary, others have found love while out on the trails. Love on the Camino has even inspired authors like Graeme Simsion and...

Camino Love Story – Engaged On The Camino Portugues My hands are covering my face as I stand outside Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in shock as tears drop into my palms. “I’m still down here, what do you say?”. These were the words from my best friend on bended knee in the main square. “Yes, yes, yes. Of course yes” I manage to whisper struggling to pull myself together. I pride myself on my ability to predict future occurrences but this moment completely caught me off guard. We were just...

A Short Trip To Galicia’s Picture Perfect Cies Islands When planning our trip to Galicia, my friends and I were unsure whether to bring our rain gear or our sun cream! As the forecast promised sunny and warm days, we thought of going to the beach to get that last taste of summer (yes, even at the end of October) before hitting the road to Santiago. So, together with the necessary gear for cycling, we packed bikinis, sun cream, a hat and sunglasses. We decided to embrace the sun and head off...

What is the Botafumeiro and when can I see it? Camino FAQ The ‘Botafumeiro’ is the famous giant thurible or censer in the Santiago de Compostela cathedral. A ‘Botafumeiro’ has been used since the Middle Ages, originally to clean the air when crowds of pilgrims having completed the Camino de Santiago arrived in Santiago de Compostela after their long journey. The Codex Calixtinus, the first Camino de Santiago ‘guide-book’, refers to the ‘Botafumeiro’ as Turibulum Magnum, which means this...

Halloween is right around the corner so it’s no surprise that we’re getting into the spooky spirit. Whether you’re a fan of ghosts and ghouls or just a little bit superstitious, you can add some ghostly fun to your walk with these 7 spooky Camino facts! As we know, the Camino de Santiago takes walkers to Santiago de Compostela, the capital of Galicia, a land rich in folklore, colourful legends, and frightening spirits. Many also believe witches still exist in Galicia, living in disguise and...

With Halloween just around the corner, we must remind you to beware of the Santa Compaña (‘Holy Company’) while on your travels along the Camino de Santiago in Galicia, especially at this time of the year. The Santa Compaña is a procession of dead souls feared by most Galicians. This very unique procession of restless souls wanders about after midnight, favouring crossroads in the country lanes and being particularly active on special nights such as Halloween – but also Mid-Summer. You will...

Holy Year 2022: What is a Jacobean year? You might have heard that 2021’s Jacobean Year celebrations have been extended to the end of 2022. But what exactly is a Holy Year and why is it worth visiting the Camino during one? A Jacobean Year or Ano Xacobeo is a Jubilee or Holy Year. A year is considered a Jacobean or Holy Year when Saint James Day, 25th July, falls on a Sunday. In a normal year, the number of pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago increases significantly during Holy Years,...

Mindful Walking on an Ancient Camino Trail Embarking on the Camino has often been described as a walk for the soul. Walking along the Meseta across Northern Spain, one can’t help but tune into a slower pace of life. In recent years and in light of the Covid pandemic, using the Camino for mindful walking and as a time to reflect is becoming quite popular. The joy of walking is the ability to bask in the task of the moment and a quiet walk in natural surroundings allows us to pause, take deep...

History of the Camino de Santiago The Camino de Santiago is considered a bucket list destination for many people, whether you consider yourself a spiritual person or not. But how did the Camino de Santiago come to be so popular among modern travellers and what do we know about the history of the Camino? Thousands of people walk the Camino de Santiago every year. Coming from all walks of life, this pilgrimage is one that captivates all who make the journey. Originally, however, the Camino...

Over the summer, why not try a tapas recipe? Treat your family or friends to some Spanish tapas from this book of recipes by Yosmar Martinez. The book is suitably titled – ‘Tastes of the Camino: 30 authentic recipes along the French Way‘. Yosmar has walked the Camino de Santiago many times and is very active in the pilgrim community in the United States. Enjoy this short sneak peek into her delicious book with this great tapas recipe from her experience of the Camino journey. Tapas Recipe:...

Santiago de Compostela is not just the final point of the Camino de Santiago, it is a fantastic place to explore, wandering around its alleys and quaint granite streets. There are also many things to do in Santiago de Compostela. It is quite pocket-sized too, so make sure you dedicate at least a couple of days to soak in the city’s vibrant atmosphere. Things to do in Santiago de Compostela As some Galicians say, more than a city, Santiago is a ‘big village’. The city population is just...

The Camino Frances is the most popular of the Camino routes. It’s full of unmissable sites and unique experiences so make sure you don’t miss these things to see on the Camino Frances: 10 Things to see on the Camino Frances 1. The Belorado Caves Belorado is a beautiful little village located along the Camino Frances between Logrono and Burgos. You will find one of the Camino’s hidden gems on the outskirts of the town. The Cave of Fuentemolinos is an awe-inspiring natural phenomenon...

Back in 2017, Karl writes and podcasts about his Cycling holiday on the Camino Frances. Enjoy! I packed my rain jacket, scarf, gloves, sunglasses, and suncream and checked the weather for the last time before heading for the airport. I was heading to meet my colleagues Ana, Sophie, and Ciara for three days cycling along the Camino Frances. Excited was an understatement! I’m a recently converted cyclist having ditched my car for a greener alternative. It was time to test my skills in the...

León: An Insider’s Guide While walking or cycling on the Camino de Santiago to Santiago de Compostela, one should consider a welcome rest in Leon and try to allow themselves some time to visit and absorb the magnificence that is Leon. Much of the surrounding region has escaped the tourist boom and remains wooded or mountainous. Leon is one of the most historic regions of Old Castile. It is a large province, bordering Galicia and Asturias, Palencia and Zamora. Very few Celtic remains have...

Logroño & The Rioja Wine Harvest Festival The city of Logroño, the capital of La Rioja, celebrates its most famous export with the Fiesta de la Vendimia Riojana, the Rioja Wine Harvest Festival, in late September every year. Every September, Logroño honours Saint Matthew but also Bacchus and the region’s best-known produce – La Rioja wine. Walking the Camino from the City of Pamplona to reach Logroño on the Camino Frances you can enjoy this fun-filled festival with Camino walkers and...

People walk the Camino de Santiago for many different reasons: religious, adventurous, spiritual, for the outdoors or simply to do something special with their holidays… The Camino can mean very different things to different people but there is one thing that binds all Camino pilgrims together: it is a very unique experience, a walking holiday and an adventure like no other. 10 Reasons to walk the Camino de Santiago These are our 10 reasons to walk the Camino de Santiago (feel free to...

If you are planning to walk the Portuguese Coastal Camino from Vigo you will be starting your Camino in the town of Vigo. Spending a little time in this city is a real treat and we recommend you to spend an extra day in this coastal city. To make the most of your stay you can follow this 24-hour guide carefully put together by our Vigo native Juanma: 24 Hours in Vigo Morning 9 am Enjoy the morning in Vigo with a trip to some of the vibrant fish markets. The fish market by the port of...

Portugal is an outstanding and diverse country, full of possibilities, different landscapes, and kind and generous people. After Lisbon, Porto is its biggest city. We got a taste for this wonderful city on the Portuguese Coastal Way. As pilgrims, we are aware of the limited time you have to discover each new place. Therefore, we want you to make the most of this marvelous city and here, we tried to make it easier for you to enjoy it and experience everything that Porto has to...

We are all familiar with the delicious tapas that can be found throughout Spain and now adopted throughout the world but have you ever heard of Petiscos? Today we are going to talk about this little-known slice of Portuguese cuisine that can be found if you plan to walk the Coastal Camino from Porto. Petiscos are small, special snacks accompanied by your choice of drink in many bars across Portugal. Just like tapas, Petiscos are often made for sharing with friends. We asked Portuguese...